Metso's New Valvetriage Service Optimizes Maintenance Actions

Source: www.gulfoilandgas.com 5/7/2015, Location: Europe

ValveTriage Service is a new way to manage field device condition and control valve performance at industrial plants. The service utilizes process data to diagnose and prioritize device issues that leads to bottom-line savings by focusing maintenance on devices that require it most.

Control valves and measurement instruments are critical pieces of equipment in industrial processes. When they experience problems, the rest of the process suffers. Properly targeted maintenance actions are crucial in maintaining adequate process performance. Metso ValveTriage Service guides maintenance planning to focus actions on the devices most needing attention.

Real-time data collection

Traditionally, field device diagnosis is carried out by operator observations, by analyzing digital device information or by testing devices with portable testing tools. For plants that do not yet have modern digitalized device technology or possibilities for portable testing, the new ValveTriage Service is especially advantageous.

As the existing control systems gather real-time data from all corners of the plant, Metso's ValveTriage Service turns the data into meaningful diagnostic information to evaluate the condition and performance of the field devices.

Quantifying the problem and effect

ValveTriage Service runs 24/7 to perform various diagnostic measures. The true advantage of real-time metrics calculated from process data is that the extent of the problem and its effect on the process can be quantified. Rather than saying, for example, that a valve has "some stiction", its exact value is now known. This gives far more value than a true/false diagnostic.

More importantly, severe problems receive a much higher priority. This frees up skilled personnel from resolving maintenance priority issues so they can allocate more time for actual maintenance planning tasks. Prioritization is even more valuable when combined with a device's criticality information, such as its impact on the process, safety and environment.

Clear benefits

Metso's ValveTriage Service makes a strong contribution to overall performance by focusing the actions on device issues with the most severe impact on the process. As the number of maintenance activities reduces, this not only cuts the cost of maintenance but also makes the plant safer by having fewer events for potential faults and accidents. Equipment lifetime is extended thanks to early detection of excessive wear and tear, and process performance can be enhanced by minimizing process variations.